Limerick crash out of the Tailteann Cup at the quarter final stage

Eight in a row put Limerick in a dominant position but a powerful comeback from the visitors was enough.

Laois came from five points down in the second half to eliminate Limerick from the Tailteann Cup at the quarter final stage.

It finished 1-14 to 0-14 in the TUS Gaelic Grounds with Limerick without a score in the final 28 minutes of the contest.

Eight in a row put Limerick in a dominant position but a powerful comeback from the visitors was enough.

Limerick led by a solitary point at the half but it should have been more for Mark Fitzgeralds men who saw a number of goal chances to abegging. 

Barry Coleman and Hugh Bourke were both well thwarted with Brian Donovan and Colm McSweeney also seeing chances missed.

It was a half that Limerick started superbly in, Cathal Downes, Barry Coleman and James Naughton kicking scores in the first three minutes. 

But the next five came from the visitors, two of those by virtue of marks. Cian Sheehan and Iain Corbett replied to level at 0-5 apiece on 15 minutes.

Three in a row was Laois’s response with Sheehan stemming the tide with a lovely score of his left. 

James Finn replied for the Leinster outfit but four in the bounce came in response from Limerick, Bourke and Naughton (3) helping Limerick into a slender half time lead.

The Shannonsiders started the second as the ended the fist, with Hugh Bourke immediately stretching the lead. 

He took his tally to four following a Brian Donovan point with Naughton then launching over a free from outside the 45 for a 0-14 to 0-9 lead. 

Mark Barry hit back with his third for the visitors, their first in twenty minutes. He then added to his own tally with Robbie Bourke missing a decent goal chance at the other end.

Laois pulled within one before disaster struck for the hosts with Colm Murphy taking advantage of a mix up to put them 1-13 to 0-14 in front. Goalkeeper Killian Roche kicked the final score of the day with Laois repelling late Limerick attacks to hold on for victory. 

For Limerick it’s the end of the road for 2023.

Scorers for Limerick: James Naughton (0-5, 4f, m), Hugh Bourke (0-4, m), Cian Sheehan (0-2), Brian Donovan, Cathal Downes, Barry Coleman (0-1)

LIMERICK: Donal O’Sullivan; Jim Liston, Sean O’Dea, Mike Donovan; Barry Coleman, Iain Corbett, Paul Maher; Cathal Downes, Cillian Fahy; Cian Sheehan, Brian Donovan, Colm McSweeney; James Naughton, Hugh Bourke, Darragh Murray.

Subs: Robbie Bourke for Murray (HT), Tony McCarthy for Maher (46), Adrian Enright for Downes (60) Davy Lyons for Liston (69) Tommy Griffin for McSweeney (72)

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